Editor’s note: This report was submitted early Tuesday morning, at the start of the first day of the Republican National Convention.

The official first day of the Republican National Convention gets underway today with an early morning delegation meeting with speakers and updates on convention proceedings. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) was among those rallying the Rhode Island troops over coffee at the Marriott Suites Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, Fla.Mayor Allan Fung and I were among those listening to speeches before heading into Tampa for an earlier than expected beginning of the official roll call of states. Also this morning, there was a cooling of Rhode Island concerns about possible changes to the Republican National Committee rules on selection of delegates to future conventions. Concerned that the changes to the RNC governing rules could run counter to Rhode Island state law, National Committeewoman Carol Mumford (a former state representative from Scituate) and State Representative and National Committeeman Joseph Trillo of Warwick were in the forefront of easing tensions that had previously marked the rules changes.Mayor Fung and I will also be meeting with their fellow mayors at a meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors. We both look forward to having discussions with our colleagues about issues facing their communities.The weather in Tampa seems to be much better today. A bright sunny sky greeted the delegates this morning.